Communication

Your Emotional Intelligence Tendencies

Insight Tool
Indicate the frequency that each statement describes you or your behavior by marking the
appropriate number. When you’re finished with each section, add each column and then
add column totals. Then, add both section totals to get your grand total for Focus on Others.

Focus on Others
Knowing emotions in others: The ability to Never/ Always/
Almost Seldom Sometimes Often Almost
empathize with and recognize emotional Never Always
cues in others.
1. It is important to me to know how
1 2 3 4 5
others are feeling.
2. I stay focused and listen deeply when
1 2 3 4 5
talking with someone who is emotional.
3. I work hard to identify and understand
1 2 3 4 5
how others are feeling.
4. I take time to try to see the other
person’s perspective when we 1 2 3 4 5
disagree.
5. I can recognize nonverbal emotional
1 2 3 4 5
cues in others.

Column Totals:

Knowing Emotions in Others Total:

Clear Form: Clear

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 Communication

Focus on Others (cont’d)

Acting on emotions in others: The ability Never/ Always/

Almost Seldom Sometimes Often Almost
to adapt behaviors, reactions, and Never Always
interactions based on emotional cues
observed in others.
1. I know what to say when a coworker is
1 2 3 4 5
emotional about an issue.
2. I adjust my behavior depending on
whom I am interacting with and their 1 2 3 4 5
mood.
3. I ask questions to identify or clarify how
1 2 3 4 5
coworkers feel.
4. I share my feelings with others to build
1 2 3 4 5
trust and rapport.
5. I make others feel respected and
1 2 3 4 5
appreciated.

Column Totals:

Acting on Emotions in Others Total:

Grand Total for Focus on Others:

Clear Form: Clear

© Development Dimensions International, Inc., 2019. All rights reserved.

Permission is granted to reproduce this document for internal use only.
2
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Scoring: Your Emotional Intelligence

Tendencies Insight Tool
Focus on Others
Score 10–20 Head Focused
A heavy emphasis on getting work done makes it easy to miss others’ emotional
dynamics. People in this category might not readily recognize or understand
emotions in others and might see emotion as something that gets in the way of
working.

Taking action tips

Paraphrase and pause. Paraphrasing what
you think someone might be feeling and why
lets the person know you “got” the message.
Pausing afterward lets the person correct or
confirm your summation. Then, he or she can
work on solutions.
Listen deeply. When you listen deeply for
clues about how a person is feeling, you
start to understand situations from his or her
perspective. If you don’t pick up on verbal
or nonverbal cues, you can ask, “What do
you think about that?” Responding with
empathy will keep the person’s emotions from
escalating.

Score 21–39 Heartbeat

Effective leaders establish predictability and trust when responding to emotional
situations. People in this category sometimes recognize emotions in others but can
lose focus depending on the circumstances.

Taking action tips

Don’t assume. People who don’t show
emotion still feel it. Don’t wait for someone
to express emotion; ask a question to
check: “This change throws your schedule
off. How do you feel about that?” or “Is it
disappointment you’re feeling about the
new structure?” You can ask yourself such
questions too.
Identify fears. If you’re aware of others’
reactions, but aren’t taking action, it could
be that you’re uncomfortable addressing
emotions. Practice using communication
techniques that will enable you to address
emotions with confidence.

© Development Dimensions International, Inc., 2019. All rights reserved. 3

Permission is granted to reproduce this document for internal use only.
 Communication

Score 40–50 Heart Focused

By being aware and taking action on others’ emotions, you create a work
environment that feels safe, and safety translates into trust! People in this category
are perceptive and see the value in recognizing and understanding emotions in
others.

Taking action tips

Balance with work. While you understand
emotional reactions, it’s important to keep
others accountable for getting work done.
Using empathy statements effectively enables
people to feel heard and to move more
quickly to practical actions.
Spread the love. Look for opportunities to
acknowledge both work well done and the
effort that went into less successful results,
regardless of your affinity for the person. To be
meaningful, mention what the person did and
how it had impact.

© Development Dimensions International, Inc., 2019. All rights reserved. 4

Permission is granted to reproduce this document for internal use only.